Not a Boston Celtics trade chip: Derrick White deserves some respect

With the addition of Malcolm Brogdon to the Boston Celtics over the summer, most of the talk around impactful guards shifted away from Derrick White. Trying to inject his team with a team-oriented player to come off the bench that can contribute on the defensive end, Brad Stevens sought out White, giving up two role players and a first-round pick in exchange for someone who shot below 31.5 percent from beyond the arc that season.

More than just White’s shooting intrigued Stevens to snatch the Spurs guard up at last season’s deadline. So far, the former Colorado State guard has started in every game for Boston, with his most impactful one being his 27-point outburst against the Magic.

Whether it was setting a sharp screen to create space for Jaylen Brown or cutting to the basket for an easy two, it looked like nobody was going to get in White’s way as he and Jayson Tatum put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter. He was always in the proper position to knock down a shot, converting on an astounding five of his nine 3-point attempts. So far, White has only collected two turnovers over three games, which is by far the best on the team for players that have averaged over 26 minutes per game. Just a few weeks ago, critics were calling White a so-called, “trade chip”.

White is in no form anyone Boston should look to trade at all this season. His inclusion helped create a more fluid offense and insurmountable defense after the trade deadline. Even though it has been three games, this looks like a player that is just beginning to get comfortable in green. He finally had an offseason under his belt with the Boston Celtics, and due to the fact that he fits the system so well, there is no good reason at this point to move him despite the addition of Brogdon.

The former Pacer has only played three games with the Boston Celtics so far, and while he gets acclimated to playing with superstars like Tatum and Brown, White is taking advantage of his starting role, and leading the offense when his number is called upon with efficiency, and creativity. He showed his strength late in the fourth quarter at Amway Center, driving to his left on “Celtic killer” Terrance Ross, and finishing a layup through traffic. Trying to complement a surging Brown and Tatum has been a task that Boston was trying to figure out for years, and White seems to fit that mold. Why break it apart now when there look to be so many more positives in the foreseeable future?

After his statement in Orlando, White spoke to the media about the improved confidence, stating:

"“I’ve been feeling comfortable this whole training camp and this whole preseason, the whole first couple of games…I think a big thing this summer was just confidence from me and that’s what I was focusing on and doing a lot of different things to get back to that way. So, I feel good out there and find a way to get a win.”"

Derrick White is a keeper for the Boston Celtics

Derrick White knows how to lead the offense, and has always been the person on the floor that makes the correct decision when the opposition’s pressure begins to increase. The former Spurs initiator knows his game, and when it is his time to take over possession and attack a mismatch on the offensive end. With his ball handling and awareness, White has to be viewed as someone that Boston needs to keep around in order for that championship goal to come to fruition.

Following his standout outing in Orlando on the second night of a back-to-back, head coach Joe Mazzulla praised White, stating:

"“Derrick’s just a stud…His ability to play different positions. His ability to screen, ball handle, and his physicality on defense. We’re lucky to have him.”"

There is no doubt that that percentage is going to come down at some point, but it was evident in the preseason and has come clear now, White has worked on his shot from distance that was off the mark considerably following his 6-11 performance in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. After Boston’s shocking Game 1 against the Warriors at the Chase Center, White shot an average of 27.7 percent from downtown, and the Celtics began to lose their grip on the series with the combination of turnovers and failed execution.

The fact that there was even a discussion to rip White away from Boston is a catastrophe in itself. He adds quality on both the offensive and defensive ends while not acting as a burden to the superstars that have accompanied him since he joined in February of 2022. The Boston Celtics rank in the bottom five in the league so far in giveaways per game, and a lot of that has to do with White’s assertiveness with the ball in his hands.

A season filled with obstacles awaits the Celtics, but if they think that consistency like this is going to continue, having guard depth is key to success. White is a piece of the puzzle to this championship that Boston has its eyes set on. At this point in the process, it is not about moving pieces, it is about executing, and with White and now Brogdon in the backcourt, all the Celtics have to do is execute to the best of their ability, and success is bound to follow in their footsteps.